The Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo to ten years of forced labour following his conviction on corruption charges involving nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in public funds.
The 60-year-old politician was found guilty of embezzling up to $247 million from a government agro-industrial project in Bukangalonzo, located some 250 kilometers southeast of the capital. The ruling concludes a drawn-out legal process that began almost four years ago and has been marked by jurisdictional disputes and political controversy.
Alongside Matata Ponyo, former Central Bank Governor Deogratias Mutombo and a South African businessman implicated in the case were sentenced to five years of forced labour each. The court also barred both Matata and Mutombo from holding public office for five years following the completion of their sentences. The South African national will be deported after serving his term.
Matata, who served under former President Joseph Kabila between 2010 and 2016, has consistently rejected the charges, claiming they are politically motivated. He withdrew from the 2023 presidential race to support opposition candidate Moise Katumbi, accusing President Felix Tshisekedi’s government of electoral malpractice.
The Inspectorate General of Finance first exposed the scandal in November 2020, revealing that $205 million had vanished from a $285 million allocation for the Bukangalonzo agro-industrial scheme. The IGF report implicated Matata as the chief architect of the embezzlement.
Legal proceedings were initially hampered by questions over the court’s jurisdiction, resulting in the case moving between the Constitutional Court and the Cour de Cassation before reaching a verdict.
President Tshisekedi has prioritized anti-corruption measures during his tenure, overseeing several convictions linked to the previous administration. The sentencing of Matata Ponyo underscores the ongoing efforts to address corruption and enforce accountability at the highest levels of government.